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Shaken, not replaced: Craig reportedly back as 007 in 2019

[NEW YORK] Daniel Craig, the British actor who once complained he'd rather slash his wrists than play James Bond a fifth time, is returning after all as 007, US media reported Tuesday.

Citing two unnamed people "briefed on the matter," The New York Times said the 49-year-old's return to the big screen in 2019 was a "done deal" for the 25th movie in a franchise that has thrilled generations of cinemagoers.

Eon Productions that oversees everything Bond and Metro-Goldwyn Mayer, which holds rights to the franchise, announced Monday that Bond would return to US cinemas on Nov 8, 2019 with an earlier release in Britain and worldwide.

The film's cast and director would be announced "at a later date," they said in a statement. On Tuesday, MGM declined to comment on the Times report.

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Writers of the new movie will be Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, the same duo behind previous Bond films, including the four earlier iterations in which Craig starred to critical acclaim and box office success.